The effects of surface pretreatment on the topography and composition of de
ntal enamel surfaces of extracted bovine teeth have been investigated by sc
anning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Surface pr
etreatment with a solution of benzoic acid in acetone does not change the t
opography of the surface. it leads to enrichment of calcium and, to a lesse
r extent, phosphorus at the enamel surface. The higher adhesion strength re
ported between enamel surfaces pretreated with benzoic acid in acetone and
glass ionomer cement might be explained in terms of a greater number of che
mical bonding sites due to the enrichment of calcium and phosphorus at the
surface.